FCA mulls standalone equity release qualification

In a consultation out on 14 September the regulator said the way equity release qualifications were currently linked to mortgages meant some advisers were turning their backs on the products. This meant consumer access to equity release was limited, leading to competition in the market being inhibited. The FCA said: "Our discussions with stakeholders have shown that some believe that the current structure of the equity release appropriate qualification may be a barrier to a wider number of consumers being able to access the product. "In particular, some stakeholders suggested that ...